Comcast & CBS Sign 10-Year Retrans Deal

As Comcast is working on its pending acquisition of NBC, the cable giant has inked a long-term carriage agreement with rival CBS. It is part of a 10-year pact with CBS Corp. that some say may be the biggest carriage deal ever. The ten-year agreement gives Comcast retransmission consent to carry the CBS TV stations until 2020, and I hear it includes a retransmission consent fee. It also includes carriage of all Showtime Networks, a significant commitment in the crowded premium cable space. Additionally, Comcast will be launching the Smithsonian Channel and expanding distribution of CBS College Sports and of on-demand access to CBS and Showtime.